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Which amp for getting better lows from HD800s without loosing detail? - Page 3

post #31 of 40
11/18/09 at 3:39am
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the comments and info.

Do you mean that Eddie Current ZDT does not give too much over SE when used with 4-pin XLR? I guess it is because the amp is not fully balanced. Craig told me that SE ZD should sound better than ZDT SE, balanced ZDT should be better. As far as I can understand from his and your comments, they are really very close in sound, with "they" I mean ZD, ZDT single ended, ZDT balanced. If I consider WA22 vs ZDT, I would pick WA22, since it comes with international power supply, 3-pin balanced jacks and a low-high impedance switch, oh and it is cheaper .

So, ZD and ZDT are sadly eliminated because of the comments of Craig himself and Larry. WA22 and B22 are the remaining options.

For WA22 I decided on different tube options, but I want to hear what you think. BTW, I found the thread that Seamaster was mentioning and made further reading into tubes. Rectifier will be probably Emissions Lab 5U4G mesh. I read somewhere that WA22 is designed for 5U4G. I would love to hear what you think about it, also what will be your recommendations for power tubes and driver tubes?

Thanks.
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post #32 of 40
11/18/09 at 3:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by artears View Post
Thank you for the comments and info.

Do you mean that Eddie Current ZDT does not give too much over SE when used with 4-pin XLR? I guess it is because the amp is not fully balanced. Craig told me that SE ZD should sound better than ZDT SE, balanced ZDT should be better. As far as I can understand from his and your comments, they are really very close in sound, with "they" I mean ZD, ZDT single ended, ZDT balanced. If I consider WA22 vs ZDT, I would pick WA22, since it comes with international power supply, 3-pin balanced jacks and a low-high impedance switch, oh and it is cheaper .

So, ZD and ZDT are sadly eliminated because of the comments of Craig himself and Larry. WA22 and B22 are the remaining options.

For WA22 I decided on different tube options, but I want to hear what you think. BTW, I found the thread that Seamaster was mentioning and made further reading into tubes. Rectifier will be probably Emissions Lab 5U4G mesh. I read somewhere that WA22 is designed for 5U4G. I would love to hear what you think about it, also what will be your recommendations for power tubes and driver tubes?

Thanks.
Wow, You got it as "the glass is half empty", but it's really half full.

What you are missing is the ZDT via 4-pin sounds as big and spacious as the balanced WA22 via 4-pin, and the ZDT doesn't suffer as much going to the 1/4" jack as the WA22 does, despite SE vs balanced inputs.
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post #33 of 40
11/18/09 at 4:49am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Wow, You got it as "the glass is half empty", but it's really half full.

What you are missing is the ZDT via 4-pin sounds as big and spacious as the balanced WA22 via 4-pin, and the ZDT doesn't suffer as much going to the 1/4" jack as the WA22 does, despite SE vs balanced inputs.
You are right, but I was thinking that, since WA22 balanced and ZDT balanced sound similar and I won't be using the headphones in SE configuration, why should I pay $600 more and loose the flexibility like a gain switch, international power supply and standard dual 3-pin XLR jacks. I can use the difference towards tube upgrades and still save some. I also have to admit that ZDT never interested me that much, I was more inclined to standard Zana Deux, since it can beat ZDT in SE, is $300 cheaper and has a gain switch as well and also ZDT is not a true balanced amp anyway. But loosing balanced configuration, which HD800s will benefit a lot from made me hesitant about a ZD.

Then there is B22 too
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post #34 of 40
11/18/09 at 6:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
Wow, You got it as "the glass is half empty", but it's really half full.

What you are missing is the ZDT via 4-pin sounds as big and spacious as the balanced WA22 via 4-pin, and the ZDT doesn't suffer as much going to the 1/4" jack as the WA22 does, despite SE vs balanced inputs.
Same here with my WA22. I had both cardas balanced and SE cable at same time once. After listen to with balanced cable with HD650 about 2 songs, I put my SE cable for sell.
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post #35 of 40
11/18/09 at 7:19pm
Just regarding the Solid State Vs Tubes for bass argument, the balanced B22 does lows every bit as well as my WA6SE, and does highs better. I've compared the two side by side using Johnwmclean's HD800.
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post #36 of 40
11/20/09 at 3:13am
Thread Starter 
I have been looking around and it seems like there are 2 other candidates in this price range. SPL Phonitor and Luxman P-1u or the original one. I read that they have a nice synergy with HD800s. Considering that they are single-ended, does anyone here have any experience with them compared to a Zana Deux? I am asking this since it is the only amp I listened to among all the ones mentioned here in this thread (although the listening was with HD600s).

Sometimes I am thinking maybe it would be better if I order a ZD and not get bothered with all these balanced configurations. Although I am a believer in driving balanced, I also think that this might be due the quality increase in balanced setups and a high-powered well-designed SE amp can also do wonders, like a ZD for example.

So, balanced:
1. WA22
2. B22 (might be unlikely due to the weight, we had some discussion with my better half )

SE:
1. ZD
2. Phonitor
3. Luxman P-1 or P-1u

I eliminated BUDA, due to the comments of WA22 being better. ZDT does not impress me as much as a ZD. B22 is close to be eliminated due to its weight and size and making it difficult to move out of country (WAF is very low on this one ).

I know this thread is getting longer, but I appreciate your patience. I would like to hear a few comments about the amps above regarding how they compare against each other.

Thanks.
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post #37 of 40
11/20/09 at 12:26pm
Artears.

All those amps are fantastic and have equal number of users praising their quality. Everyone's ear is different and so their taste. I really don't think you can't go wrong with any of it.

With that said, if your main can is hD800, then consider the NDA Sonnett as well. Cheaper and also has balanced configuration.

If I am little low on cash, i'd go with Sonnet. If I have little over $2k, I would go with WA22 to be honest.
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post #38 of 40
11/20/09 at 4:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tosehee View Post
Artears.

All those amps are fantastic and have equal number of users praising their quality. Everyone's ear is different and so their taste. I really don't think you can't go wrong with any of it.

With that said, if your main can is hD800, then consider the DNA Sonnett as well. Cheaper and also has balanced configuration.

If I am little low on cash, i'd go with Sonnet. If I have little over $2k, I would go with WA22 to be honest.
FIFY.

In his price range, I would still pick the ZDT. It responds well to tube rolling and had great synergy with the HD800. The WA22 with a balanced source and all the tube upgrades is just about as good with HD800, but with single ended source or output I liked the ZDT more.

I only had a few minutes with the DNA Sonnet at Canjam and it is indeed a nice choice as well, I just can't say where it compares to the ZDT and WA22. It will certainly save the wallet more.
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post #39 of 40
11/20/09 at 4:52pm
Forget Luxman amp. Just like "most" Japanese audio gear they sound too mellow, and overly tube. because the eastern people more into formal music. They have that sound in mind when they design a pice of audo gear.
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post #40 of 40
12/4/09 at 6:22pm
*edit* posted my confusion in the 5U4G NOS WA22 thread for better organization

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/eml...ml#post6207543
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